Surreal Gourmet Bites: Showstoppers and Conversation Starters

by Bob Blumer, Suzi Q. Varin (Photographer)

The Food Network's Bob Blumer is called the Surreal Gourmet for good he's an artist when it comes to creating dishes as fun and delicious to look at as they are to eat. Ceci n'est pas your ordinary party fare, but an array of 50 little mouthwatering masterpieces. With recipes such as Coconut Shrimp Lollypops (skewered shrimp with an amazing apricot dipping sauce), Chinese Snow Cones (wontons stuffed with chicken salad and ginger vinaigrette), and the ingenious and very adult S'more Shooters (amaretto hot chocolate with roasted marshmallows), guests will be abuzz about the food all the way home. Complete with tips and techniques, including shortcuts and prep times, as well as whimsical presentation ideas and Bob's quintessential suggestions for music to cook by, each cocktail bite is simple enough for the home cook and memorable enough to become addictive. With Surreal Gourmet Bites, the food will be the life of the party.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

132 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2004

Reviews

[Nathalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made the cauliflower popcorn and salmon suckers - mmmmmmmm

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want a cookbook w/ snarkily written side tips on every-single-page, small bites using animal shaped cookie cutters & really odd food combinations, well this is the book for you.

Cowboy Cookies: Yams/sweet potatoes, New Mexican chili powder, filet mignon/pork tenderloin...chipotle aioli
Fois Gras & Jam: Just what it says...... Really?
French Fried Polenta
Bee Stings: Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese & honey
Cucumber Shooters: Cucumbers, jalapeño, lime juice & mint
Fish Cakes: Salmon, panko.... topped w/ some type of whipped potato
Psychedelic Caviar: Salmon roe & green wasabi caviar on a slice of lemon
Cocktail Dates: Dates, Parmigiano-Reggian & bacon
And many more odd offerings

But there were some recipes that seemed more to my taste:
Haiku Halibut: Halibut, miso on cucumber "noodles"
Samurai Scallops: Scallops, sesame oil, cilantro, sesame seeds (the ginger, I'll omit)
Finger Lickin' Shrimp
Inside-out BLT: Tomatoes instead of bread....
Lucky Duck: Duck, Grand Marnier, green onions, & won ton wrappers
And many more delicious foods

[Guy]

Some great ideas for adding a little extra for your next party/gathering of friends. The author even included music to listen to while preparing each recipe. The S'more Shooters look awesome; might try one day soon.

[Tawney]

Huh, wow. Would I want to eat that?